The Kukai - a haiku contest, where each person submits a haiku, and then, becomes a judge. When all the poems are compiled in a list, the contestants comment, vote, and give scores to poems of their choice. One cannot comment on, nor vote for one’s own poem. At the end of the voting process winners emerge, the selection based on votes by the kukai’s contestants.

FIRST PLACE
9
first touch-
the way a bud welcomes
a butterfly
--Rita Odeh, Haifa/ Israel
VOTES: 171*** SCORE: 18
COMMENTS: 1. Interesting angle of the subject matter. Different. 2. Have you considered that the poem could be improved without 'the way'

SECOND PLACE
15
a gold carpet
to welcome us home
cassia blooms
--Shrikaanth
VOTES: 332*** SCORE: 15
COMMENTS: I feel in this haiku that autor gives us very good picture of welcome to his home

7
dishes of oysters
she welcomes me
into her bed
--Nika
VOTES: *41*** SCORE: 11
COMMENTS: 1.There's a lot going on here, including (for me) a lesbian aroma. 2. In this haiku there is good picture of someone emotional memories

16.
childhood home
a warm welcome from
the lilac scent
--Cezar
VOTES: 21**** SCORE: 04
COMMENTS: Old homes always have a comforting scent, as does this one, which instantly puts us to ease. This haiku captures the moment perfectly.

Thanks adjei. When I took part in this Kukai, I wished to win in order to get your book because I enjoy reading your haiku. I invite you and all our haiku friends to read my Haiku Collection:"Buds of Haiku" on YouTube: